University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth is a school for pupils in Portsmouth.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
University of Portsmouth in detail
University of Portsmouth in its own words
In its own words: "Find out how we make a positive difference to the world and how you can join us Since the first day we opened our doors, we've looked towards the future. And we're here to help you shape it. Study in London at the University of Portsmouth, in the heart of Waltham Forest."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Portsmouth & Southsea Rail Station, about 530 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hampshire Terrace (sw-bound), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1078 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Portsmouth (499), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
University of Portsmouth provides high-quality, practically-focused training delivered by experts who bring real industry experience into the classroom. Apprentices gain the technical skills and confidence they need to succeed in their careers, with most staying with their employers after completing their training and many gaining promotion. The university works closely with leading employers to ensure training meets genuine workplace needs.
Key Strengths
- Highly skilled academics who use industrial expertise to connect teaching to real professional practice
- Well-equipped learning facilities including laboratories, simulation suites, and industry-standard equipment
- Strong partnerships with prestigious employers who actively support apprentice development
- Effective support systems for learners with additional needs through the disability advice centre
- Clear career guidance and professional accreditation leading to good employment outcomes
Areas for Improvement
- Some apprentices lack motivation to complete final assessments and achieve the full apprenticeship
- Apprentices and adult learners not given clear enough information about course expectations and assessment requirements from the start
- Adult learners on Skills Bootcamps not informed early enough about targets they need to achieve
- Adult learners need better awareness of risks related to radicalisation and extremism
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear systems in place for identifying needs and supporting learners.
Extracurricular Activities
Industry expert talks and mentoring in creative sector, shadowing opportunities in healthcare and biomedical science disciplines, peer critique sessions
University of Portsmouth is a higher education institution offering degree apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps for adults alongside its undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The university was rated Good overall, with strengths in teaching quality, employer partnerships, and learner engagement.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
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From University of Portsmouth's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with University of Portsmouth
Getting There
Train Stations
Ferry Terminals
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 83
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 19
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 83 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 19 serious and 64 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
20 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Portsmouth is 57 (the median across 67 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Across Portsmouth council
Places available
2,178
Applications
2,140
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
96.1%
All secondary applications across Portsmouth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
Questions parents ask about University of Portsmouth
What is the catchment area for University of Portsmouth?
No fixed boundary. When University of Portsmouth is oversubscribed, Portsmouth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to University of Portsmouth?
Apply through Portsmouth's coordinated admissions process, naming University of Portsmouth on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near University of Portsmouth?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 83 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 19 serious and 64 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 20 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Portsmouth is 57 (the median across 67 schools, same distance and years).
Where is University of Portsmouth?
University of Portsmouth is at Mercantile House, Hampshire Terrace, Portsmouth, PO1 2EG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)